For decades, Star Wars has taken fans to a galaxy far, far away through movies, television, video games and merchandise. But now there’s a new way to visit this wonderful universe: the Galaxy’s Edge theme park.
Initially, the Star Wars second of Disneyland was only accessible via reservations, to manage the massive crowds that would otherwise swamp the park before Disney was ready for them. I got to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during this reservation period, and I was sure I made the right decision the moment I stepped into the remote outpost of Batuu.
Although I’d heard of it, Batuu isn’t a place we’ve seen in the movies, but it takes your breath away the moment you arrive. From the tall buildings to the stormtroopers to the rides and beyond, there’s so much to appreciate.
Anyone with a reservation was given a four-hour window where they could explore what Galaxy’s Edge had to offer. However, there are some decisions you must make as you begin your journey.
As of right now, the park’s major attraction is the “Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run” ride, which you simply just get in line for and wait for your chance to board. But there are three other activities visitors can partake in: having a drink at Oga’s Cantina, building your very own droid at Mubo’s Droid Depot, or building your own lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop. Given the time window, we could only pick one activity on top of “Smuggler’s Run.” My family and I went with Oga’s Cantina, and I’m so glad we did.
While we waited to be called back for our reservation, we took the time to take in the sights of Galaxy’s Edge, and what a sight it was. The land itself is split into different areas: there’s the bazaar, the “Smuggler Run’s” ride with the Millennium Falcon right outside of it, the TIE fighter, and more. It’s so hard for me to describe what it’s like to walk into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge because the moment you do, it’s like the rest of Disneyland ceases to exist.
Photo Credit: Ariba Bhuvad
As I entered the Black Spire Outpost, I caught a glimpse of the X and A-wing ships as smoke billowed out from under them. It’s almost as if they were getting ready to blast off. As I continued to walk in, the sight of the large spires started to come into view. They’re truly impressive, especially the Black Spire after which the area is named. The landscape continues to change as you walk further and further into the park, but never once do you feel taken out of the experience.
Everything is genuine and crafted to perfection so you never feel like you’re not actually there. There’s music playing in the background to keep the mood going, the employees never step out of character. Like us, you may even have a few stormtroopers walk right up to you to question who you are and what you’re doing. It’s such a blast, I swear.
Now, let’s talk about Oga’s Cantina. Once we were called back, we got to step into one of the best experiences I’ve had at Disneyland, and it can all be summed up with one name: DJ-R3X. Yes, there is a droid DJ inside the cantina. It bumps out beats from all around the galaxy and keeps the party going as you approach your seat to order drinks.
Photo Credit: Ariba Bhuvad
Now, we had 45 minutes to enjoy the atmosphere and guzzle down an assortment of drinks the cantina had to offer. I drank the Hyperdrive (Punch It!), which is a mix of cranberry juice, black cherry, and others flavors that combine to make a delicious fruity concoction. You can pick between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and even indulge in some snacks.
I couldn’t get enough of DJ-R3X, so most of my time was spent admiring how perfectly this droid was crafted to provide awesome entertainment. Sadly, the 45 minutes went by too fast and we had to leave, but that meant it was time to ride the Millenium Falcon! Luckily, our wait was only 30 minutes, but honestly, the wait means nothing when you enter into the queue and are in awe and shock over the things around you. There’s all sorts of machinery making noise and releasing smoke. It all just feels so authentic.
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When you make it to the front of the line, you’re split into groups of six, where you are assigned one of three jobs: pilot, gunner, or engineer. The goal is to be one of the pilots because it means you actually get to control the ship, while the second pilot gets to send the Falcon into hyperspace. It’s seriously so cool! I rode the ride twice. The first time I was the gunner which simply involves pushing down the lit-up buttons to take down enemies. The second time I got to be the pilot on the right, which meant I got to control the ship vertically AND blast it into hyperspace.
Photo Credit: Ariba Bhuvad
Naturally, being a pilot is the best, but it also requires you to work with the other pilot to ensure you don’t crash. It’s all sorts of chaos, but honestly, just getting to sit in the Millennium Falcon and being in control is all a Star Wars fan could ever ask for. I do need to mention that as you’re waiting to board the ship, you get to walk around the ship and take in everything. Fans will recognize the hallways, the gadgets, and the details, which only hypes you up as you get ready to go on the ride.
As our four-hour rendezvous in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge came to a close, we managed to sneak in a few more exciting things. We drank Meiloorun Juice at Ronto Roasters (where my brother briefly spoke to THE Levar Burton who was there with his family), walked around the bazaar and drank from the droid-designed Coke bottles. Finally, we made a pit stop at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities where my brother purchased Darth Vader’s lightsaber.
Photo Credit: Ariba Bhuvad
Side note: This store was absolutely mindboggling and even had Dok-Ondar himself behind a cage managing the place. Not to mention, there were things from all over the galaxy posted around the store available for purchase.
All in all, my experience at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was, at the risk of sounding cheesy, out of this world. I couldn’t believe such a world was created and available for fans to live out their lifelong dreams. As a long-time Star Wars fan, Galaxy’s Edge was everything I could have imagined. I mean, they had a life-size Millenium Falcon for goodness sakes! It simply doesn’t get better than that.
Photo Credit: Ariba Bhuvad
For those who plan to visit Galaxy’s Edge, get ready to be emotional, because spotting the Black Spire from a distance and seeing the Millennium Falcon right in front of you is a feeling you’ll never be able to describe. Clearly, I’m struggling, aren’t I? All I can say is that you must go, you won’t regret it!
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